So It's Cancer But It's Small and We're Moving Ahead

Yesterday I met with my surgeon - a wonderful, funny, lively woman who I think will do a wonderful job. She spent almost an hour with me and my friend Claire, going through the results of my pathology and why she recommended one pathway over another, one decision over another. I discovered that my actual tumor is between 6 and 8 mm in total size, that we found it early - very important - and that I could choose either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy (removing just the cancerous "lump" or the entire breast). My decision was to go with the lumpectomy since we found things early and it seems quite contained. 

Mastectomy (left) is the total removal of the breast. One 
of my friends chose this option when she was diagnosed 
with cancer, but mine is quite small and very localized, 
so I've opted for the lumpectomy (right). 

I need to go through the paperwork in more detail today and set up an appointment for an MRI. That's the next step. Of course, I'm very claustrophobic, so the MRI may well be the most difficult thing on my agenda. But, I'll get it done. They'll prescribe valium for me, but I'll have to ask Claire to drive me to the appointment and back home again since I can't drive while under the effects of a tranquilizer. 

I've never had an MRI and I have extreme claustrophobia, 
so we'll have me take some drugs to lessen the phobia 
and make the enclosed space more tolerable for me. It 
still won't be my favorite thing. 

But all in all, the appointment went well, the prognosis looks good, and I'm relieved. I'm not out of the dark quite yet, we still have to actually accomplish all of this in as short a time as we can manage. So I'll be on the phone today with this person and that one to get the balls rolling. It was very helpful having Claire there for emotional support. She's a "sharp cookie" and there's not a lot that escapes her. I'm quite fortunate in my friends. 

So I have a lot on my agenda today. I'm cutting this off here, because I need to get going on it. Have an excellent Wednesday and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini.